Image caption
The advert, which appeared in the New York Times, cost about $70,000

A newspaper advertisement featuring a tweet by a film critic has prompted debate about social media copyright.

A full-page promotion for the Oscar-tipped movie Inside Llewyn Davis appeared in the New York Times on 4 January, prominently displaying an edited tweet by A O Scott.

Scott says his permission was sought, but he did not give consent.

One lawyer told the BBC that a case could be made against the advertisers but that the law was "still in flux".

Scott, who is one of America' s leading film writers, had originally tweeted about the soundtrack of the Coen brothers' celebrated new film: "You all keep fighting about Wolf of Wall St. and Am Hustle. I'm gonna listen to the Llewyn Davis album again. Fare thee well, my honeys."

Law 'adjusting'

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Mr Scott's original tweet contained references to two other films

Dale Cendali, a lawyer who specialises in copyright, trademark and internet practice at Kirkland and Ellis LLP told the BBC that the law "is still adjusting" to the rights of those publishing on social media platforms.

"There have been a lot of cases, but few have conclusively determined what people's rights are," she said.

She added that Scott did own the copyright to his tweets, and could make a claim over "fake endorsement" and a possible violation of Twitter's terms and conditions.

But Ms Cendali said that Scott had "volunteered this statement in a public way".